Tides: Periodic rising and falling of ocean waters casued by the gravitational forces of the sun and moon. The forces on the sun and moon pull on the water and create bulges that are the high and low tides. When the water is pulled towards the moon, you get a high tide. The moon has more of an effect on tides because it is a lot closer to Earth than the sun.
The moon completes one revolution around Earth in about a month (29.5 days)
The phases of the moon are caused by the changing positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon
Tidal Range: The difference between the high and low tide
Daily Tidal Cycle: Earth and moon move together, high and low tides should usually be 6 hours apart. Tides occur fifty minutes later each day.
Flood current: As the tide rises, water moves towards the surface.
Ebb current: As the tide recedes, water moves away from the shore.
Spring Tides: When sun, moon, and Earth are aligned (full and new moons). The gravitational forces all act in the same direction and create very extreme high tides and low tides. The distance between the tides' reaches is greater.
Neap Tides: When the sun, moon, and Earth are at right angles with eachother. (First and Third quarter). The gravitational force of the sun partially cancels out that of the moon. Distance between the tides is least.
Types of Tides
Semidiurnal: two equal high and low tides. the most common, found on the East coast.
Mixed semidiurnal: 2 highs and 2 lows, but high tides differ in height and low tides differ in height. common on the West coast.
Diurnal: 1 high and 1 low tide in a 24 hr period. Uncommon, but can be found around the Gulf of Mexico.
The moon completes one revolution around Earth in about a month (29.5 days)
The phases of the moon are caused by the changing positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon
Tidal Range: The difference between the high and low tide
Daily Tidal Cycle: Earth and moon move together, high and low tides should usually be 6 hours apart. Tides occur fifty minutes later each day.
Flood current: As the tide rises, water moves towards the surface.
Ebb current: As the tide recedes, water moves away from the shore.
Spring Tides: When sun, moon, and Earth are aligned (full and new moons). The gravitational forces all act in the same direction and create very extreme high tides and low tides. The distance between the tides' reaches is greater.
Neap Tides: When the sun, moon, and Earth are at right angles with eachother. (First and Third quarter). The gravitational force of the sun partially cancels out that of the moon. Distance between the tides is least.
Types of Tides
Semidiurnal: two equal high and low tides. the most common, found on the East coast.
Mixed semidiurnal: 2 highs and 2 lows, but high tides differ in height and low tides differ in height. common on the West coast.
Diurnal: 1 high and 1 low tide in a 24 hr period. Uncommon, but can be found around the Gulf of Mexico.
Image from: http://www.definity-systems.net/~apw/astro/images/spring_tides.gif
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